The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has rejected a proposal by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to allow carpooling on the EDSA Busway, saying it would undermine the busway’s purpose.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the EDSA Busway was built to move people efficiently through high-capacity buses, not to accommodate more private vehicles. He warned that opening the lane to cars—even for carpooling—would slow bus operations and reduce benefits for daily commuters.
Lopez stressed that national transport policy, under the President’s directive, prioritizes commuters and mass public transport over car-focused solutions. While he acknowledged MMDA general manager Nicolas Torre III’s efforts to ease traffic, he said the government remains firm in keeping the busway exclusive to buses.
The DOTr said the EDSA Busway has proven effective, serving more than 341 million passengers since it began operations in June 2020, with up to 300,000 commuters using it daily.
Despite rejecting the proposal, Lopez said the DOTr remains open to discussions with the MMDA and other stakeholders to develop alternative, commuter-focused solutions to Metro Manila’s traffic problems.
The EDSA Busway is a flagship DOTr project, supported by the Department of Public Works and Highways and the MMDA, aimed at improving mass transit efficiency, safety, and accessibility along EDSA.
